Posts tagged Canal

Cycling The Thames Estuary: Thames Barrier to Margate

This was a trip that had been at the back of my mind for 30 years. Back in the summer of 1994 I cycled the length of the Thames from the source near Kemble in Gloucestershire to the Thames Barrier near Woolwich, London. The last day was a long one and we ended up at the Barrier after dark. At the time we had considered the adventure to be complete. A few years later I started to plan a second part: from the Barrier east along the Thames Estuary to Margate.

Over the intervening years I got more excited about other trips. I also either lost contact with a few of the old Thames Path gang or they got preoccupied with having babies. Early in 2024 the stars aligned and the Estuary adventure popped up to the top of my cycling backlog.

The route to Margate mostly follows NCN Route 1 with a bit of the Route 15 Viking Way at the end. It also runs parallel to the main rail line between London and Margate making trip logistics fairly simple. We did it over a weekend, staying both the Friday and Saturday night at the Chatham/Gillingham Victory Pier Premier Inn.

Day 1: Thames Barrier to Chatham

Start: Charlton Railway Station, London, SE7 7QG, United Kingdom
Finish: Premier Inn Chatham/Gillingham (Victory Pier) hotel, Blake Avenue, Gillingham, ME7 1GB, United Kingdom
Distance: 62.8 km (39 miles)
Elevation change: + 408m / -409m (Net +1m)
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): Thames Path, Capital Ring, Jubilee Greenway, Green Chain Walk, London Loop. Cray River Way, Hoo Peninsula Path, Weald Way, Thames and Medway Canal Towpath, Saxon Shore Way, England Coast Path, Strood Community Trail,
Other routes touched (cycle): NCN 1, 125, 179, Q14
Pubs / Cafes on route: At Woolwich Arsenal (4km in), Erith (15km in), Dartford (25km in), Gravesend (39 km in), Rochester (57km in), Chatham (59km in)
Maps:
- Greenwich & Gravesend Map | East End, Docklands, Bromley, Sidcup & Thurrock | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 162
- Gravesend & Rochester Map | Hoo Peninsula | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 163
Links: Charlton, Thames Barrier, Woolwich Arsenal, Erith, Dartford, Gravesend, Thames and Medway Canal, Rochester, Chatham, Gillingham

Like all Saturdays the day started with a parkrun, this time at Great Lines Heritage park, just over a mile from from the hotel. From there we headed to Chatham Station to get the train to Charlton. The Thames Barrier is a 1.4km ride from Charlton Station.

Navigation is straightforward, keeping to the NCN Route 1 all the way to Chatham. The first 20km hugs the riverside passing a mix of pleasant gentrified areas like Woolwich Arsenal and ugly industrial parts. After Erith the Route 1 cuts south away from the river to Dartford avoiding the entrance to the Queen Elizabeth Bridge. We had planned a coffee and cake stop in Dartford but nothing inspired us so we carried on. By the time we reached Gravesend we were really hungry and, as pubs were open by then, were optimistic about finding food. We found Gravesend equally inspiring so didn’t stop there either.

After Gravesend the scenery becomes much more pleasant. With the Route 1 following the disused Thames and Medway Canal. Watch out for the obelisk that marks the half-way point between the cities of London and Rochester. The Route 1 leaves the canal at Lower Higham which, conveniently for us, also has a train station. Brian was having problems with his wheel after several punctures and we’d run out of options to fix it at the road-side. Here we decided that Brian would head to Chatham by train and I would finish the first day on my own.

As it turned out Brian missed one of the best parts of the first day. The final section included quiet countryside and a descent down to Rochester. Had we kept together we would have stopped in Rochester for food ahead of the final few miles. I decided that I was on a mission to beat Brian’s train journey back to Chatham so I wasn’t hanging around. A 20 minute wait for the train meant that I was back at the hotel before Brian arrived at Halfords in Chatham. With a newly fixed wheel and fresh supplies of inner-tubes we were now ready for Day 2.

Day 2: Chatham to Margate

Start: Premier Inn Chatham/Gillingham (Victory Pier) hotel, Blake Avenue, Gillingham, ME7 1GB, United Kingdom
Finish: Margate Lighthouse, Harbour Arm, Margate, CT9 1AP
Distance: 87 km (54 miles)
Elevation change: + 514m / -513m (Net -1m)
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): Saxon Shore Way, England Coast Path, Swale Heritage Trail, Invicta Way, Wantsum Walk,
Other routes touched (cycle): NCN 1, 174, 15: Viking Coastal Trail
Pubs / Cafes on route: At Sittingbourne (22km in), Faversham (40km in), Whitstable (59km in), Herne Bay (66km in), Westgate-on-Sea (83km in) and Margate.
- We stopped at Cafe Guild in Faverham (40 km in) and The Ship Inn, Herne Bay (66km in)
Maps:
- Gravesend & Rochester Map | Hoo Peninsula | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 163
- Sittingbourne & Faversham Map | Isle of Sheppey | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 149
- Canterbury & Isle of Thanet Map | Herne Bay, Deal & Whitstable | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 150
Links: Sittingbourne, Faversham, Crab & Winkle Way, Whitstable, Herne Bay, Reculver, Westgate-on-Sea, Margate, Margate Lighthouse

Shortly after leaving the Chatham/Gillingham area, the Route 1 passes through Riverside Country Park. It was very popular with dog walkers early that Sunday morning so it was a good chance to take it slow as we warmed up for the day. After the Country Park the route cuts away from the estuary from Rainham to Sittingbourne.

Sittingbourne was our original plan for a breakfast stop but we were similarly uninspired by food options as we were on day 1. By the time we arrived in Faversham with 40km down we were starving. It was worth the wait though as Faversham is a very nice old Kent market town with several good cafes.

After Faversham the route heads back towards the coast then takes a detour up the steepest hill of the route to bypass Whitstable Town Centre. After a well-earned descent we reached the Crab & Winkle Way, a disused railway that once connected Whitstable to Canterbury. This was the point where we left the NCN 1, which follows the old railway line to the south. Instead we followed the Crab & Winkle Way north to join the Route 15 Viking Way at the Whistable coast.

The last 28km along the Viking Way from Whitstable to Margate was my favourite section of the whole route. This section keeps to the coast along flat boulevards passing seaside towns and the remains of Reculver Towers. We had made good time so we stopped for a while at a pub in Herne Bay to gaze across the estuary and contemplate future adventures.

Our 2-day adventure finished at Margate Lighthouse, an obvious place to mark the end of the Estuary adventure. We really enjoyed the trip and, baring the wheel & puncture issues at the end of day one, found it pretty easy going. I still didn’t get the sense of completion though. Yes, we had cycled the estuary to complete the Thames Path, but we had now left the southern section of the NCN Route 1 uncompleted. Within a couple of days I was already planning the next 2 day adventure to complete both the NCN Route 1 from Whitstable to Dover and the rest of the Viking Way.

The Full 2-Day Route

The Millennium Mileposts

Dotting the UK's National Cycle Network are over 1,000 unique markers known as the Millennium Mileposts. Unveiled in 2000, these cast-iron sculptures are more than just waymarkers. Designed by four artists, one from each nation of the UK, they celebrate the diversity of the cycling routes. These artistic mileposts come in various shapes and can be found in both bustling towns and scenic landscapes, adding a touch of artistic charm to a cycling adventure. Here’s the 14 Mileposts that I spotted on the 2 day estuary adventure.

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Richard gower24 March 2024Cycle, NCN, Coast, Canal, Railway, Disused Railway, Thames, London, Kent, National Trails, England Comments

Walking The Guildford and Shalford Disused Railways

Broadford Road bridge over the disused railway path

Start: Shalford Station, Guildford, GU4 8JD
Finish: Guildford Station, Guildford, GU1 4UT
Distance: 9.1 km (5.6 miles)
Elevation change: +/- 52m
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): Wey-South Path, National Trust Railway Walk, Scholar’s Trail, North Downs Way
Other routes touched (cycle): NCN 22, Downs Link
Pubs / Cafes on route: The Snooty Fox cafe near Shalford Station, The Weyside (7.9 km in), many others in Guildford
Map: OS Explorer Map (145) Guildford and Farnham
Links: Shalford, Guildford, Wey and Arun Canal, National Trust River Wey and Godalming Navigations and Dapdune Wharf, The Cranleigh Line

This is part of a series of short walks in and around the Surrey Hills AONB. The guidance below will help you navigate but don’t use it as a fully accurate turn-by-turn guide. Always take a map and/or a GPX route and prepare well for the weather and terrain.

I’d had this walk in mind for a few years after I completed the Downs Link with my friend Mark in 2021. The Downs Link connects the North Downs Way and South Downs Way, mostly following disused railways. It starts at St Martha’s Hill following footpaths and joins the old rail line near Chinthurst Hill. However, there’s a section of this old line from Guildford that the Downs Link doesn’t follow so we needed to return to complete the rest.

This is a point-to-point walk with Guildford and Shalford Stations at either end. We originally planned to start at Guildford and return back on the train from Shalford. Although the train ride between them is only 8 minutes, the trains are fairly infrequent at weekends. As there was a Guildford-Shalford train leaving shortly after we parked at Guildford we took that one and did the route in reverse.

From Shalford Station cross over the A281 Horsham Road and follow the path across the common in a south-westerly direction to Broadford Road. Take a right and cross the bridge over the River Wey. Follow the path on the western side of the Wey north for approximately 1 km until you see the path on the left to the National Trust River Wey Navigations Railway Line Walk. Climb the old embankment to the WW2 Pillbox at the top and follow the route of the old rail line. This is the old section of line where trains from Shalford would have crossed over the River Wey to turn south onto the line to Petersfield. After ~400m the path reaches the fence where you can see the current Guildford to Petersfield line.

Continue a bit further and you’ll see where the Cranleigh Line used to split off from the Guildford to Petersfield line. Look closely near the A3100 Old Portsmouth Road bridge and you can see some remains of the old track with a tree growing out of them. This is the start of the old Cranleigh Line which becomes the route of the Downs Link further to the south.

Follow the route of the old rail line for another 2km, crossing under Broadford Road, across Horsham Road and back onto the Wey-South Path. Our walk reaches its southernmost point at the Tannery Lane bridge where the Downs Link joins from the north-east. Having already done the rest of the Cranleigh Line on the Downs Link, this now completes the full stretch of the disused railway.

To complete the walk, turn around and retrace your steps back to Horsham Road. Instead of following the old rail line again take a right onto Horsham Road and follow the Wey-South Path. Stay on the Wey-South Path, along the banks of the Wey all the way back to Guildford. On this final stretch you’ll retrace the 1 km of the route between the Broadford Road Bridge and the start of the old railway line. You’ll also cross over the route of the North Downs Way. For me this would have been a more logical place to start the Downs Link as it would have run closer to the route of the rail lines. I guess whoever designed the trail wasn’t as much of a completist as I am and thought St Martha’s Hill was a more impressive place to start.

Annoyingly, the end-point of the Wey-South Path at Millmead Lock was blocked off when we got there. The footbridge onto the island was destroyed after heavy rain in 2019 and is still out of action. There’s an easy diversion along the A281 past The Weyside pub and then over the footbridge behind the theatre. The final 1 km of the walk follows the west bank of the Wey back to Guildford Station.

The Bridges

Bridge numbers counting up from 1 at Little Venice to 64 near Limehouse Basin. Not all bridges have numbers on them.

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Richard gower25 November 2023Trek, Canal, Railway, London, Middlesex, EnglandComment

Walking The Slough Arm Canal

Start: Slough Station, Railway Terrace, Slough, SL1 1XW
Finish: West Drayton Station, Station Approach, West Drayton UB7 9DY
Distance: 10 km (6.2 miles)
Elevation change: +/- 28m
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): Colne Valley Trail, Beeches Way, Shakespeare’s Way, Celandine Route, London Loop
Other routes touched (cycle): Grand Union Canal Towpath, NCN 61
London Coal Duty Post: 69
Pubs / Cafes on route: Several in West Drayton High Street
Map: OS Explorer Map (172) Chiltern Hills East and OS Explorer Map (160) Windsor, Weybridge & Bracknell
Links: Slough Arm Canal (Wikipedia / Canal & River Trust) Slough, Langley, Iver, Yiewsley, West Drayton, Colne Valley Regional Park,

The Slough Canal is an arm that branches off from the main Grand Union Canal at Yiewsley in Hillingdon, Greater London. It was opened in 1882, primarily to serve the brick industry. The arm closed to commercial traffic in 1960 and re-opened in 1975. There have been plans to extend the canal to join the River Thames between Windsor and Maidenhead, but that feels unlikely to happen.

I’ve cycled the Slough Arm on many occasions and crossed over it on other walks but, until now, hadn’t walked the whole length. It runs parallel to the GWR mainline and Elizabeth Line which makes it easy to walk as a single point-to-point between stations. We started at Slough Station and finished at West Drayton, with a short ride on the Elizabeth Line back to the start.

Leave Slough Station at the north entrance onto Railway Terrace and walk west to join the B416. Follow the B416 in a northerly direction to find the entrance to the canal basin on the right hand side of the road shortly after St. Paul’s church. The first 4km runs between a mix of residential and light industrial areas. There’s a lot of rubbish along the way despite the best efforts of the Friends of The Slough Arm local community group.

After the Langley park Road Bridge (#7), the canal becomes a parking area for boats lined up for the repair yard at bridge #6 at Hollow Hill Lane. From here the canal enters the Colne Valley Regional Park and soon joins the Beeches Way and Shakespeare’s Way. The towpath passes under the M25, then over the Colne Brook, River Colne and Frays River. Watch out for the two WW2 Pill Boxes that guard the rivers and the Coal Duty Post by the footbridge carrying the London Loop.

By the time you reach the junction with the Grand Union Canal you’ll have passed through Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, the Historic County of Middlesex and into the Greater London Borough of Hillingdon. When you reach the main line of the Grand Union, cross over the footbridge and take a right to follow the towpath for 800m to the West Drayton High Street Bridge. Leave the canal and cross the bridge to reach the end of the walk at West Drayton Station.

The Bridges

Bridge numbers counting down from the Basin to the Junction with the Grand Union. Bridges 5 and 2 have been destroyed.

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Richard gower28 October 2023Trek, Canal, Railway, Chilterns, London, Middlesex, EnglandComment

Walking The Aylesbury Arm Canal

Bridge 10 between Puttenham and Broughton

The Aylesbury Canal is an arm that branches off from the main Grand Union Canal at Marsworth near the Hertfordshire / Buckinghamshire border. The canal opened in 1814 and was used for the transport of agricultural produce and coal. Unlike the Wendover Canal the whole length is still navigable.

We walked the length of the canal in three sections over the autumn of 2023. Each section was part of a circular walk of around 10k. A single point-to-point walk of the canal is also 10k. Scroll down to the bottom of this page for details.

Section 1: Marsworth To Puttenham

Start & Finish: The Red Lion Pub, 90 Vicarage Rd, Marsworth, Tring HP23 4LU
Distance: 9 km (5.6 miles)
Elevation change: +/- 52m.
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): Aylesbury Ring
Other routes touched (cycle): Grand Union Canal Towpath, Tring 5 Cycle Route
Pubs / Cafes on route: The Red Lion (at start and end), The Farmhouse Kitchen at PE Mead and Sons (7.2 km in)
Map: Chiltern Hills North Map | Aylesbury, Berkhamsted & Chesham | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 181
Links: Aylesbury Arm Canal (Wikipedia / Canal & River Trust / Aylesbury Canal Society), Marsworth, Grand Union Canal, Drayton Beauchamp, Wilstone

For section 1 of the Aylesbury Arm we picked up where we left off on the final section of the Wendover Canal walk. The Red Lion Pub on Vicarage Road is a good place to start as there’s free on-street parking. From the pub walk north to cross the Grand Union Canal and take a left to follow the Grand Union Towpath to Marsworth Wharf. Here you can either cross over the gates on the first lock of the Aylesbury Canal or cross over the Watery Lane bridge. Either way, take a right after crossing the Aylesbury Canal to follow the towpath heading west.

This first section of the Aylesbury Canal towpath is just under 3km leading to bridge #7 near Puttenham. Once leaving the towpath follow the lane in a south-easterly direction to Drayton Beauchamp, crossing over the B489 Lower Icknield Way. Once in Drayton Beauchamp find the footpath on the left that leads to Wilstone Reservoir then follow the northern edge of the reservoir to join the B489 at PE Mead & Sons Farm Shop. There’s a cafe there that’s a good place for a rest before the final section.

After the Farm Shop continue along the B489 in a north-easterly direction to the point where the road curves to the right. Take a footpath on the left of the curve that leads back to Watery Lane in Marsworth, crossing over Wingrave Road on the way. Follow Watery Lane back over the Aylesbury Canal then return to the Red Lion either via the same route as the start of the trip or along Church Lane.

Section 2: Puttenham to Broughton

Start & Finish: St Mary’s Church, Church Lane, Puttenham, Tring, HP23 4PR
Distance: 9.8 km (6.1 miles)
Elevation change: +/- 28m
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): Aylesbury Ring
Other routes touched (cycle): None
Pubs / Cafes on route: None
Map: Chiltern Hills North Map | Aylesbury, Berkhamsted & Chesham | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 181
Links: Aylesbury Arm Canal (Wikipedia / Canal & River Trust / Aylesbury Canal Society), Puttenham, Broughton

This section starts at St Mary’s Church in Puttenham which is one of the few places to park near the route. From the church take a footpath heading in a north-easterly direction to connect with the outer Aylesbury Ring. Follow the Outer Aylesbury Ring as it curves to the south-east, connecting with the Aylesbury Canal 2km from the start of the walk.

Follow the Aylesbury Canal towpath for just under 4km to bridge #11. You’re now at the end of this section of the towpath and on the outer edges of Broughton, a suburb of Aylesbury. Cross over the bridge to the southern bank and pick up the footpath that heads east all the way back to St Mary’s Church at Puttenham. Navigation is fairly simple as there’s few other paths connecting with it. It was very overgrown when we were there and having some hedge clippers would have made it easier.

Be careful with this section in damp conditions. It was a very wet October day when we were there and the ground on the northern side of the canal was soaked.

Section 3: Broughton to Aylesbury Basin

Start & Finish: Aylesbury Basin, Aylesbury, HP21 7SH
Distance: 7 km (4.3 miles)
Elevation change: +/- 20m
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): Round Aylesbury Walk
Other routes touched (cycle): None
Pubs / Cafes on route: Many in Aylesbury Town Centre
Map: Chiltern Hills North Map | Aylesbury, Berkhamsted & Chesham | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 181
Links: Aylesbury Arm Canal (Wikipedia / Canal & River Trust / Aylesbury Canal Society), Marsworth, Broughton, Aylesbury

For this final section we started in Aylesbury Town Centre where there’s a lot of options for parking and access by public transport. I tried to plan a full circular walk like for the other sections but couldn’t find a good scenic option around the urban part at the basin end. Instead, the first and last 2km repeat the final part of the towpath.

Start at Aylesbury Basin and follow the towpath on the southern side of the canal to Victoria Park. Leave the canal and cross over the Bear Brook Stream following it in an easterly direction parallel to the towpath. Cross under the A4157 Oakfield Road Bridge into Oakfield Park continuing the follow the Bear Brook as it curves down to the south-east. At around 2.1 km into the trip you can take a left hand path that crosses over the stream and through the Bear Brook Flood Relief Area. This area is (as you might imagine) prone to flooding, so if it’s impassable stick to the path to the right of the Bear Brook up to a crossing to Broughton Lane.

Whichever way you cross the Bear Brook, find the footpath that leads into fields on the eastern side of Broughton Lane north of Manor Farm. Follow the path through the field for approximately 1 km curving up to the north-east to return to the Aylesbury Canal at Bridge 13. This is where section 2 left the canal. Take a left at the bridge to follow the towpath in a westerly direction back to Aylesbury Basin.

The Full Aylesbury Arm Canal Route

The 3 circular route sections shown together. Red = Section 3, Green = Section 2, Blue = Section 3

The 10km point to point Walk from Marsworth to Aylesbury

Details for a Point-to-Point Walk:

Start: Marsworth Wharf, Tring, HP23 4BW
Finish: Aylesbury Basin, Aylesbury, HP21 7SH
Distance: 10 km (6.2 miles)
Elevation change: +18m /- 44m. Net -26m
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): Aylesbury Ring, Round Aylesbury Walk.
Other routes touched (cycle): Tring 5 Cycle Route
Map: Chiltern Hills North Map | Aylesbury, Berkhamsted & Chesham | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 181
Links: Aylesbury Arm Canal (Wikipedia / Canal & River Trust / Aylesbury Canal Society),

The Bridges

There’s no number sign on bridge 13.

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Richard gower8 October 2023Trek, Canal, Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire, EnglandComment

Walking The Wendover Arm Canal

Two sides of the Miswell Bridge. Left: looking west, Right: looking east.

The Wendover Canal is an arm of the Grand Union Canal that branches off from the main Grand Union at Bulbourne near Marsworth on the Hertfordshire / Buckinghamshire border. It was originally planned as a feeder to carry water from springs near Wendover on the northern edge of the Chilterns the main line of the Grand Union. Paul Whitewick’s video tells the story of the birth and decline of the canal and is useful watching before visiting it.

We walked the length of the canal in three sections over the autumn of 2023. Each section was part of a circular walk of around 10k. A single point-to-point walk of the canal is 11.4k. Scroll down to the bottom of this page for details.

Section 1: Wendover to Stablebridge Road

Start & Finish: Wendover Clock Tower, 3 Tring Rd, Wendover, Aylesbury HP22 6DU
Distance: 10.8 km (6.7 miles)
Elevation change: +/- 166m.
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): Aylesbury Ring, Outer Aylesbury Ring, Wendover Woods Hillfort Trail
Other routes touched (cycle): None
Pubs / Cafes on route: Many in Wendover Village Centre, Restaurant at the Chiltern Forest Golf Club (6.3k in), Wendover Woods Cafe (8.4 km in)
OS Trig Pillar: TP2394 - Coombe Hill
Map: Chiltern Hills North Map | Aylesbury, Berkhamsted & Chesham | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 181
Links: Wendover Arm Canal (Wikipedia / Canal & River Trust / Wendover Canal Trust) , Wendover, Halton, RAF Halton, Wendover Woods

Section 1 starts at the Clock Tower in Wendover Town Centre. From here head north along Aylesbury Road then take a right onto Wharf Road. Here you’ll find the start of the Wendover Canal footpath at the point where Heron Brook passes under the road into the canal. This first section of the path covers 4.5 km, ending at Stablebridge Road. Along the way you’ll pass through Halton village and past the RAF Halton.

At Stablebridge Road leave the canal and walk south along the Outer Aylesbury Ring. Cross over the B4009 Upper Icknield Way and ascend up through the Chiltern Forest Golf Course. Continue along the Outer Aylesbury Ring to the Wendover Woods Visitors’ Centre. Along the way you can opt to take a short-cut across a field to visit the Coombe Hill Trig Pillar.

From the Wendover Woods Visitors’ Centre, pick up the Hillfort Trail to reach a footpath that leads down to Beechwood Lane. Continue in a south-westerly direction along Beechwood Lane, Barlow Road, Hampden Road and onto the B4009 Upper Icknield Way to return to the Wendover Clock Tower.

Section 2: Stablebridge Road to Miswell Farm

Start & Finish: Small car park on western side of Stablebridge Road, Aston Clinton, just south of the canal.
Distance: 8.9 km (5.5 miles)
Elevation change: +/- 157m
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): Outer Aylesbury Ring, Tring Parish Walk 1: Little Tring
Other routes touched (cycle): None
Pubs / Cafes on route: Restaurant at the Chiltern Forest Golf Club (6.7k in)
Map: Chiltern Hills North Map | Aylesbury, Berkhamsted & Chesham | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 181
Links: Wendover Arm Canal (Wikipedia / Canal & River Trust / Wendover Canal Trust), Aston Clinton, Drayton Beauchamp

Section 2 picks up at Stablebridge Road and follows the Wendover Canal for 2.6 km to the wooden footbridge near Misbourne Farm. This takes you to the point where the restored part of the canal finishes. Cross over the footbridge and follow the path in a south-easterly direction. Cross over the B488 Icknield Way, following Miswell Lane and take a right onto Buckingham Lane. Continue in a westerly direction through the residential estate to meet a footpath by the playing fields. Take a left to follow this path.

Continue to follow the path as it curves round to the west, crossing over the A41, Dancers End Lane and then up the hill into the woods. Here you’ll reconnect with the Outer Aylesbury Ring near the Chiltern Forest Golf Course from section 1. Descend the hill in the opposite direction that you took in section 1 (heading north) to return to the canal at Stablebridge Road.

Section 3: Miswell Farm to Marsworth

Start & Finish: The Red Lion Pub, 90 Vicarage Rd, Marsworth, Tring HP23 4LU
Distance: 9.7 km (6 miles)
Elevation change: +/-61m.
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): Tring Parish Walk 1: Little Tring
Other routes touched (cycle): Grand Union Canal Towpath, Tring 5 Cycle Route
Pubs / Cafes on route: The Red Lion (at start and end), Waters Edge (0.6km in)
Map: Chiltern Hills North Map | Aylesbury, Berkhamsted & Chesham | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 181
Links: Wendover Arm Canal (Wikipedia / Canal & River Trust / Wendover Canal Trust), Marsworth, Tring Reservoirs, Grand Union Canal

Section 3 completes the Wendover Arm and gives a tour of Marsworth, the start of the Aylesbury Canal and the Marsworth Reservoirs. The start and end is at the Red Lion Pub in Marsworth village centre where there’s free on-street parking. From the pub follow Vicarage Road heading in a south-easterly direction and take a right onto Church Lane. When Church Lane starts to curve to the right, take a footpath to the left that leads to a bridge that takes the B489 Lower Icknield Way over the Grand Union Canal.

Cross over the Grand Union and take a left into the Startops End Car Park. This is a good alternative place to start the walk but can often be full at weekends. Take the footpath along the north-westerly edge of Startops End Reservoir then cross over Tringford Road to follow the north-westerly edge of Tringford Reservoir. Keep heading in a southerly direction to Little Tring Road to the bridge over the Wendover Canal.

Before the bridge leave the road to pick up the footpath heading (right) in a westerly direction to a dead-end / turnaround spot for canal boats. Continue along the footpath, now in a south-westerly direction to a path junction. Take a right, heading north to return to the Wendover Canal at the wooden footbridge where section 2 left the canal.

After crossing the footbridge, take a right to follow the route of the canal, currently dry and under restoration works. The path will lead you back to Little Tring Road where you’ll need to temporarily leave the route of the old towpath to reach the Little Tring Road bridge again. Rejoin the canal towpath, this time taking a left to head in an easterly direction. Follow the canal towpath for 2.1 km to reach the end of the Wendover Arm at Bulbourne.

To complete the walk, take a left onto the main route of the Grand Union Canal, following it for 1.7 km to the start of the Aylesbury Canal. Cross over the first lock of the Aylesbury Canal and continue to the Long Marston Road Bridge. Cross over the bridge and you’ll be back on Vicarage Road near the Red Lion Pub

The Full Wendover Arm Canal Route

The 3 circular route sections shown together. Green = Section 1, Blue = Section 2, Red = Section 3

The Point to Point Walk from Wendover to Bulbourne

Details for a Point-to-Point Walk:

Start: Wharf Road, Wendover, Aylesbury, HP22 6HF
Finish: Junction with main route of Grand Union Canal at New Canal Cottages, Tring HP23 4NG
Distance: 11.4 km (7.1 miles)
Elevation change: +55m /- 57m
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): Aylesbury Ring, Outer Aylesbury Ring, Tring Parish Walk 1: Little Tring
Other routes touched (cycle): None
Pubs / Cafes on route: Many in Wendover Village Centre, none on route
Map: Chiltern Hills North Map | Aylesbury, Berkhamsted & Chesham | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 181
Links: Wendover Arm Canal (Wikipedia / Canal & River Trust / Wendover Canal Trust) , Wendover, Halton, Aston Clinton, Tring Reservoirs, Grand Union Canal

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Richard gower30 September 2023Trek, Canal, Chilterns, Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire, Trig Pillar, EnglandComment

Walking The Uxbridge To Denham Disused Railway

Start & Finish: Buckinghamshire New University, Uxbridge Campus, 106 Oxford Road, Uxbridge, UB8 1NA
Distance: 6.3 km (3.9 miles)
Elevation change: +/- 27m
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): London Loop, Colne Valley Trail, South Bucks Way
Other routes touched (cycle): Grand Union Canal Towpath
Pubs / Cafes on route: Swan & Bottle pub (near start and end)
Map: Chiltern Hills East Map | High Wycombe, Maidenshead & Rickmansworth | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 172
Links: Uxbridge, Fray’s River, Alderglade Nature Reserve, Colne Valley Regional Park, Grand Union Canal

This trip was a return to visit to Uxbridge following my previous week’s cycle adventure on the Staines West to Denham Lines. Although we cycled between the old Uxbridge High Street Station and Denham, we followed a more cycle-friendly route rather than the course of the old rail line. This week Timea and I returned to walk the true route of the line. As with last week’s longer route from Staines West to Denham, this trip was inspired by Geoff Marshall’s London’s Lost Railways videos. Check out Geoff’s video for more detail on each of the lines and stations.

The route starts at 106 Oxford Road, the site of the former Uxbridge High Street Station, now a campus for Buckinghamshire New University. It’s actually in Hillingdon, Greater London, though and not in Buckinghamshire which is just across the River Colne to the west. The line closely follows the Hillingdon/Buckinghamshire border staying in Hillingdon for most of it’s length apart from one very short section at the start of Alderglade Nature Reserve.

From 106 Oxford Road follow Braybourne Close in a northerly direction to the end then into Alderglade Nature Reserve. The path follows the left hand side of the old railway embankment then follows the top of it. You can see a few bits of remaining metal from the railway if it’s not too overgrown. At the 1.3 km mark you’ll reach an old graffitied bridge that goes under the railway. Here you’ll need to cross over the Shire Ditch (Stream) and divert away from the rail route as it passes through private property.

Keep heading north on the footpath closest to the rail line and you’ll pass under a raised section of the A40 and through the Graffiti Gallery. On the north side of the A40 follow a path taking you east back to the course of the old rail line. There was a lot of nettles when we were there in July which made if difficult to see the path. Once on it, you can follow the route of the rail line through wood most of the way to the old mainline junction.

This section after the A40 is littered with old railway sleepers and bits of old railway metal. It’s a great place to explore in an area that attracts relatively few people. Around 500m from the A40 you’ll cross over an old bridge over the River Frays. Climb down the embankment just to the south of the river to get a good view of the old bridge. After the bridge continue along the route of the old railway to the site of the triangle junction that took trains onto the GWR/Chiltern Main Line. The route now ends here as the triangle is now used by a concrete company. Here you have the choice of retracing your steps for 200m to the footpath junction or, as we did, take a circuit of the small fishing lake in the woods to the east.

Whichever route you take to return from the end of the line, take the footpath that crosses between the 2 lakes on the eastern side of the old rail line. Cross over the Grand Union Canal and take a left to head south back to Uxbridge. When you pass Denham Deep Lock you could take a right into Denham Country Park to follow the South Bucks Way to Denham Station. As I’d followed that route on the bike the previous week we continued south along the canal. When you return to Uxbridge the Swan and Bottle Pub (next to the canal bridge) is a good place to stop for a rest. Look out for old photos of Uxbridge on the wall and a great map of waterways in the area. From the Swan and Bottle cross the bridge to the eastern side of the canal and back to the start at 106 Oxford Road.

Back to Chiltern Railway Walks Index

Richard gower30 July 2023Trek, Canal, Railway, Disused Railway, Colne Valley, Buckinghamshire, London, Chilterns, EnglandComment

Cycling the Staines to Denham Disused Railways

HS2 train parked up at Colnbrook Station

Start / Finish: Site of Staines West Station: The Old Station, Moor Lane, Staines, TW18 4BB
Distance: 22.9 km (14.2 miles)
Elevation: + 99m / -67m. Net +22m
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other Routes Touched (walk): Colne Valley Way, London Loop, Shakespeare’s Way, Celandine Route, South Bucks Way
Other Routes Touched (cycle): Grand Union Canal Towpath, NCN 6, 61
Pubs / Cafes on route: Fat Boys Cafe, Colnbrook (7.8k in), Several as you pass through West Drayton and Yiewsley (~14 km in), Swan and Bottle pub, Uxbridge (18.8k in), Colne Valley Cafe (21 km in)
Maps:
- Windsor, Weybridge & Bracknell Map | Thames Path | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 160
- Chiltern Hills East Map | High Wycombe, Maidenshead & Rickmansworth | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 172
Links: Staines-upon-Thames, Staines Moor, Stanwell Moor, Poyle, Colnbrook, Harmondsworth Moor, West Drayton, Yiewsley, Cowley, Uxbridge, Denham, Colne Valley Regional Park

This is a short cycle adventure inspired by 3 of Geoff Marshall’s London’s Lost Railways videos. It traces 3 separate disused railways that ran from Staines in Surrey to Denham in Buckinghamshire. Much of the route travels through the Colne Valley Regional Park, an interesting mix of countryside, industry and transport links on the western edge of Greater London. I cycled this route as a part of a 100 km circular tour of the Colne Valley, Chiltern Hills, South Bucks and Windsor. There’s a mix of road and off-road sections so it’s best to take a mountain bike or similar.

Check out Geoff’s videos for each section of the route for more detail on each of the lines and stations.

Line 1: Staines West to West Drayton

The Staines to West Drayton Railway was in existence from 1884 to 1965 and once also connected to the Reading to Waterloo Line at Staines. The Staines West Station building is still intact and now used as offices.

From Staines West Station follow Moor Lane until you reach a footpath on the right hand side just ahead of the A30 Staines Bypass. Follow this path to cross over the old bridge that crosses the River Wraysbury and the route of the old railway. Take a left after the bridge to pass under the A30 and onto Staines Moor. Keep to the south-western edge of the moor and find a gate leading to a bridge in the woods and the route of the old railway. Here you’ll find an information board about the railway and steps up to join the old rail line.

Follow the route of the old railway in a northerly direction to meet the site of the old Yeoveney Halt Station. There’s not much left but you can find some concrete remains in a clearing to the right hand side of the track.

Continue north following the edge of the M25 and River Wraysbury and take a path that passes through Junction 14 of the M25 to reach the western edge of the motorway. Just before you join Horton Road take a track heading south for about 100m to the approximate site of the old Poyle Halt Station. Nothing remains. You’re now also at the most westerly point of Greater London.

Retrace your route back from Poyle Halt to meet Horton Road following it west and then join Poyle Road at the roundabout. Take a right on the next roundabout onto Blackthorne road, following it east to the junction of Blackthorne Crescent where you’ll be at the approximate site of Poyle Estate Halt. As with the previous station, nothing remains.

Retrace your route back down Blackthorne Road and take a right back onto Poyle Road heading north, then a right onto Bath Road. Colnbrook Station can be found on the left hand side of Bath Road just after the junction with Meadowbrook Close. The old building still remains and is now a private house called Station Cottage. After Colnbrook Station the rail line is still in use but now only for cargo and not for passengers.

There was one extra station north of Colnbrook station called Colnbrook Estate Halt. There’s nothing left of it and I couldn’t find a way to get close to the location so we cycled on to West Drayton. To do this continue east along Bath Road over the M25 then take the first track on the left which takes you north to Harmondsworth Moor. Pass under the M4 near the M4/M25 junction and onto a road called The Common. Continue north, then right onto Cricketfield Road, right onto Mill Road, left onto Station Road, right onto Warwick Road where you’ll find West Drayton Station and the end of this section.

Line 2: West Drayton to Uxbridge Vine Street

This section follows the Uxbridge (Vine Street) branch line from West Drayton station. The line ran passenger services from 1884 to 1962 and completely closed in 1979. Today nothing remains of Uxbridge Vine Street Station or Cowley Station, the only other station on the route. You can still find evidence of the line in the shape of streets and some road names.

From West Drayton Station cross over High Street and follow Tavistock Road, following the curve of the old railway. Take a right onto Trout Road over the Grand Union Canal, a left through a path onto Chantry Close then a left onto the A408. Taking a right onto Moorfield Road then take a left onto St Martin Close, a right onto New Peachy Lane and a left onto Peachy Lane. Note that in Geoff’s video he found some alleyways between the houses that traced a closer route to the old line.

Take a left off Peachy Lane onto Kingdom Lane, a cycle path that directly follows the route of the old railway. Follow this for 0.5km to Station Road, near the site of the old Cowley Station. Cross Station Road and continue to follow the old rail route up Cleveland Road, Whitehall Road and Kendal Mews. You’ve now arrived at the busy A4020 (Hillingdon Road) dual carriageway that runs through Uxbridge. The Hertz building on the north side of the A4020 is on the site of the old Vine Street Station.

Line 3: Uxbridge High Street to Denham

From the site of Uxbridge Vine Street Station navigate round the roundabout to pick up Oxford Road to the site of the old Uxbridge High Street Station at 106 Oxford Road. There’s no remains of the old station and the site is now a building for the Buckinghamshire New University.

Geoff’s video on this section describes a walk along the route of the old line that connected Uxbridge to the Chiltern main line (formerly GWR) from 1907 to 1964. Having cycled through Alderglade Nature Reserve and Frays Farm Meadows before I remember it being a tricky ride and best tackled on foot. This time we opted for a more cycle-friendly route to the west of the old line. Timea (wife) and I went back to Uxbridge a week later to walk the true route of the old railway and you read about that in my next post.

From 106 Oxford Road we followed the Grand Union Canal Towpath from the Swan and Bottle pub to the southern entrance of Denham Country Park south of Denham Deep Lock. From here follow the South Bucks Way through the Country Park, Buckinghamshire Golf Course, Denham Village and along The Pyghtle to Denham Station. This is the end point of the route along the 3 disused rail lines.

The full cycle route from Staines West to Denham

The full cycle route: all 3 lines from Staines (south) to Denham (north)

Elevation plan for the full cycle route between Staines West and Denham

Stations on the Staines West to Denham Lines

Displayed in order of the cycle route from Staines West to Denham. Click on each photo to connect to the Wikipedia article for the station. Includes West Drayton and Denham which are still operating stations.

Staines West

Yeoveney Halt

Poyle Halt

Poyle Estate Halt

Colnbrook

West Drayton

Cowley

Uxbridge Vine Street

Uxbridge High Street

Denham

Chiltern Rivers

Colne Valley Trails

Richard gower3 May 2022Canal, Coast, South Downs, National Park, Sussex, Hampshire, EnglandComment

The Great Trails of Scotland

The Great Trails are 29 long distance walking routes established by Scotland Natural Heritage. The Great Trails website is the best place for further information on each. I’ve experienced a few of them on various adventures although it’s only the Great Glen Way that I’ve (kind of) completed so far. That was by bike and followed a path either on or close to the trail.

The above map is a collaboration between Michael Jones and myself based on research and an original design by Michael. Let me know via the Contact form if you spot any errors and I’ll donate £1 to one of my causes for any error corrected.

BLOG POSTS FEATURING THE GREAT TRAILS

Arran Coastal Way: Goatfell: Buteshire County Top
Great Glen Way: Cycling from Land’s End to John O’Groats
Loch Lomond and Cowal Way: Ben Vorlich: Dunbartonshire County Top
Roy Roy Way: The Rob Roy Challenge
Southern Upland Way: Scottish Borders County Tops
West Highland Way: Ben Lomond: Stirlingshire County Top

MORE INFORMATION ON THE GREAT TRAILS

Annandale Way: Great Trails / LDWA / Wikipedia
Arran Coastal Way: Great Trails / LDWA / Wikipedia
Ayrshire Coastal Path: Great Trails / LDWA / Wikipedia
Berwickshire Coastal Path: Great Trails / LDWA / Wikipedia
Borders Abbeys Way: Great Trails / LDWA / Wikipedia
Cateran Trail: Great Trails / LDWA / Wikipedia
Clyde Walkway: Great Trails / LDWA / Wikipedia
Cross Borders Drove Road: Great Trails / LDWA / Wikipedia
Dava Way: Great Trails / LDWA / Wikipedia
Fife Coastal Path: Great Trails / LDWA / Wikipedia
Formartine and Buchan Way: Great Trails / LDWA / Wikipedia
Forth & Clyde/Union Canal Towpath: Great Trails / LDWA / Wikipedia
Great Glen Canoe Trail: Great Trails / Wikipedia
Great Glen Way: Great Trails / LDWA / Wikipedia
Great Trossachs Path: Great Trails / LDWA / Wikipedia
John Muir Way: Great Trails / LDWA / Wikipedia
Kintyre Way: Great Trails / LDWA / Wikipedia
Loch Lomond & Cowal Way: Great Trails / LDWA / Wikipedia
Moray Coast Trail: Great Trails / LDWA / Wikipedia
Mull of Galloway Trail: Great Trails / LDWA / Wikipedia
River Ayr Way: Great Trails / LDWA / Wikipedia
Rob Roy Way: Great Trails / LDWA / Wikipedia
Romans and Reivers Route: Great Trails / LDWA / Wikipedia
Southern Upland Way: Great Trails / LDWA / Wikipedia
Speyside Way: Great Trails / LDWA / Wikipedia
St Cuthbert’s Way: Great Trails / LDWA / Wikipedia
Three Lochs Way: Great Trails / LDWA / Wikipedia
West Highland Way: Great Trails / LDWA / Wikipedia
West Island Way: Great Trails / LDWA / Wikipedia

Tube-Style Maps

English & Welsh National Trails

Brecon Beacons Rivers

South Downs Rivers

Chiltern Rivers

Colne Valley Trails

Back to Trek Index

Richard gower2 May 2022Trek, Coast, Canal, Great Trails, ScotlandComment

Lee Valley 10k

When: March 27th 2022
Where: Lee Valley White Water Centre, Station Road, Waltham Cross, EN9 1AB
Course: Start and finish at the Lee Valley White Water Centre. Single loop around the lee Valley Country Park on tarmac paths. Fast and flat.
Other routes touched (walk): Lea Valley Walk / River Lea Navigation Footpath, Greenwich Meridian Trail
Other routes touched (cycle): NCN 1
Finish time: 52:06

Back to Run Index

Richard gower27 March 2022Run, 10k, Canal, London, EnglandComment

Alexandra Palace and The Parkland Walk

Start & Finish: Alexandra Palace, Alexandra Palace Way, London N22 7AY
Distance: 11.1 km (6.9 miles)
Elevation change: +/- 138m
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): New River Path, Capital Ring
Other routes touched (cycle): None
Pubs / Cafes on route: Many, including: Finsbury Park Cafe, Goods Office (Parkland Walk South), Queens Wood Cafe (Highgate Wood)
Map: OS Explorer 173 London North
Links: Alexandra Palace, New River, Finsbury Park, Parkland Walk, Highgate Wood, London’s Protected Views

This is a short circular walk in north-west London that takes in Alexandra Palace, The New River Path and The Parkland Walk. The Parkland Walk follows a disused railway line and is now an area of calm in a busy part of the capital.

If you’re driving there’s a large car-park at Alexandra Palace that, at the time of writing, takes donations rather than a fixed charge. To access the route by public transport, the route passes close to Hornsea and Harringay rail stations and Highgate tube on the Northern Line.

At Alexandra Palace find the view point on the terrace at the centre of the south side of the main building. This is a Protected View to St. Paul’s Cathedral, although we couldn’t see St Paul’s even through the viewfinder. Must have been hiding.

From the view point take the paths through Alexandra Park to the southern exit to North View Road. Here you can either take a left onto the path following the southern edge of the park, or follow North View Road and Newlands Road as they run parallel to the path. We were there after a lot of rain and the path was muddy so we took the roads. The path and Newlands Road join just before Campsbourne Play Centre. Follow Newlands Road, then Greenways in an easterly direction until you reach the New River Path.

Follow the New River Path in a southerly direction for 2.6km until the junction of Alroy Road and Endymion Road. Take a right onto Endymion Road and follow it south until the entrance to Finsbury Park. Enter the park and follow the path on the western edge down to meet the Capital Ring just south of the Finsbury Park Café. Take a right onto the Capital Ring, cross the footbridge over the rail line and join the Parkland Walk.

Parkland Walk South

The Parkland Walk follows the route of the old railway line that ran from Finsbury Park station to Alexandra Palace. The route of the southern, and longer, section of the Parkland Walk runs from Finsbury Park (the park not the station) to the Holmesdale Tunnels near Highgate tube station.

Disused Stations Passed:

Stroud Green: Disused Stations / Wikipedia. Platforms no longer exist. The Station Master’s House survives and is in alternative use.
Crouch End Station: Disused Stations / Wikipedia. Both platforms survive.
Highgate: Disused Stations / Wikipedia. Still exists but not publicly accessible.

When you reach the western end of Parkland Walk have a look at the entrance to the tunnels before leaving the path. These are now blocked off to protect the bats that now live there. Leave the Parkland Walk at Holmesdale Road and follow signs for the Capital Ring. You’ll pass through Priory Gardens, Queen’s Wood and Highgate Wood. The Queen’s Wood Café is a great place to stop for a rest ahead of the final 2 km. Once you have crossed Muswell Hill Road from Queen’s Wood into Highgate Wood, leave the Capital Ring and follow the path on the eastern edge of Highgate Wood to the north-east corner at Cranley Gardens.

If you want to stay true to the route of the old rail line, you could follow the path on the western side of Highgate Wood instead.

Parkland Walk North

After Highgate Wood, the Parkland Walk can be picked up again on the junction of Muswell Hill Road and Cranley Gardens (road). This section of the Walk exits into Alexandra Park where you’re a very short walk back to the start.

Disused Stations Passed:

Cranley Gardens: Disused Stations / Wikipedia. No longer exists, site now used for housing and St. James primary school.
Muswell Hill: Disused Stations / Wikipedia. No longer exists, site now used for Muswell Hill primary school.
Alexandra Palace: Disused Stations / Wikipedia. Platforms removed but the station building survives and is in alternative use.

The Trails

Beeches Way. Runs for 27 km from Cookham to West Drayton. The Shakespeare’s Way follows the Beeches Way through the Colne Valley
Celandine Route. Runs for 19 km along the River Pinn from Pinner to the Grand Union Canal at Yiewsley
Chess Valley Walk. Runs for 16 km along the River Chess from Chesham to Rickmansworth.
Colne Valley Trail. Runs for 33 km along the River Colne from Rickmansworth to Staines. The southern parts of the trail are called the Colne Valley Way.
Grand Union Canal Towpath. Runs for 220 km from Birmingham to London.
Hillingdon Trail. Runs for 32 km from Springwell Lock on the Grand Union to Cranford Park near Heathrow.
London Loop. Runs for 242 km in a circle around London.
Slough Arm Canal. Runs for 10km from Slough to Yiewsley.
Thames Path. Runs for 298 km from Kemble in Gloucestershire to the Thames Estuary, east of London.

English & Welsh National Trails

Scottish Great Trails

Chiltern Rivers

Brecon Beacons Rivers

South Downs Rivers

Back to Chiltern Walks Index

Richard gower8 February 2022Trek, Cycle, Chilterns, Colne Valley, Canal, Thames, Berkshire, Surrey, Middlesex, London, EnglandComment

Walking The Three Castles Path Part 1: Windsor to Greywell

Windsor Castle and the start of the Three Castles Path

The Three Castles Path is a 60 mile trail from Windsor to Winchester, inspired by the travels of King John. The three castles that it refers to are Windsor Castle, Winchester Castle, and King John’s own Odiham castle at the half way point. The trail is very well described in the short guidebook The 3 Castles Path by Heron Maps.

Our journey along the path was a reunion of our small group that did the Caminos Ingles and Finisterre in 2019. The Covid lockdowns had thwarted many of our plans for long trips so we covered this first section of the path in sections around the Lockdowns. Our trip was based on roughly 10k sections with good parking options at either end. These are different sections to those described in the guidebook which also details public transport options.

We’ll get to the second half of the path another time. It’s further from home with fewer parking options on some sections so will need some more planning.

Section 1. Windsor Castle to Ascot

Start: Windsor Castle, Castle Hill, Windsor
Finish: Free car parking, High Street, Ascot, SL5 7HS
Distance: 11.6 km (7.2 miles)
Elevation change: +128m / -90m. Net +38m
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): None
Other routes touched (cycle): NCN 4, Ascot To Windsor Cycle Route, Round Berkshire Cycle Route 52
Pubs / Cafes on route: None on route but several in Windsor and Ascot High Streets
Map: OS Explorer Map (160) Windsor, Weybridge & Bracknell
Links: Windsor, Windsor Castle, Windsor Great Park, Ascot, Ascot Racecourse

Section 2. Ascot to Swinley Forest

Start: Free car parking, High Street, Ascot, SL5 7HS
Finish: The Look Out Discovery Centre, Nine Mile Ride, Bracknell, RG12 7QW
Distance: 8.3 km (5.2 miles)
Elevation change: +68m / -41m. Net +27m
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): Ramblers’ Route
Other routes touched (cycle): NCN 422, Ascot To Windsor Cycle Route
Pubs / Cafes on route: None on route but The Look-out has a cafe and Horseshoe Lake has a kiosk.
Map: OS Explorer Map (160) Windsor, Weybridge & Bracknell
Links: Ascot, Ascot Racecourse, North Ascot, Swinley Forest, The Lookout Discovery Centre

Section 3. Swinley Forest to Horeshoe Lake

Start: The Look Out Discovery Centre, Nine Mile Ride, Bracknell, RG12 7QW
Finish: Horseshoe Lake Car Park, Sandhurst, GU47 8JW
Distance: 10 km (6.1 miles)
Elevation change: +74m / -127m. Net -53m
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): Ramblers’ Route, The Wokingham Way, Ambarrow Hill Circuit, Ambarrow Court Circuit
Other routes touched (cycle): Swinley Forest Mountain Bike Routes
Pubs / Cafes on route: None on route but The Look-out has a cafe and Horseshoe Lake has a kiosk.
Map: OS Explorer Map (160) Windsor, Weybridge & Bracknell and OS Explorer Map (159) Reading, Wokingham and Pangbourne
Links: Swinley Forest, The Lookout Discovery Centre, Broadmoor Hospital, Sandhurst, Horseshoe Lake

Section 4. Horseshoe Lake to Hartley Wintney

Start: Horseshoe Lake Car Park, Sandhurst, GU47 8JW
Finish: Cricket Green, Hartley Wintney, Hook RG27 8QB. Parking at Hartley Wintney Long Stay, 484 Monachus Lane, Hartley Wintney, RG27 8NN
Distance: 12 km (7.5 miles)
Elevation change: +103m / -91m. Net -12m
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): The Wokingham Way, Blackwater Valley Park
Other routes touched (cycle): None
Pubs / Cafes on route: None on route but several in Hartley Wintney and Horseshoe Lake has a kiosk.
Map: OS Explorer Map (159) Reading, Wokingham and Pangbourne and OS Explorer Map (144) Basingstoke, Alton and Whitchurch
Links: Horseshoe Lake, Blackwater Valley, River Blackwater, River Hart, Hartley Wintney

Section 5. Hartley Wintney to Greywell

Start: Cricket Green, Hartley Wintney, Hook RG27 8QB. Parking at Hartley Wintney Long Stay, 484 Monachus Lane, Hartley Wintney, RG27 8NN
Finish: Fox & Goose Pub, The Street, Hook, RG29 1BY
Distance: 11.9 km (7.5 miles)
Elevation change: +79m / -61m. Net -18m
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): Basingstoke Canal Towpath
Other routes touched (cycle): Odiham Circular
Pubs / Cafes on route: Several on Hartley Wintney High Street at start, the Waterwitch in Odiham and The Fox and Goose at the end.
Map: OS Explorer Map (144) Basingstoke, Alton and Whitchurch
Links: Hartley Wintney, Basingstoke Canal, Odiham, Odiham Castle, Greywell, Greywell Tunnel

Back to Trek Index

Richard gower16 October 2021Trek, Canal, Berkshire, Hampshire, England, English HeritageComment

Downs Link Ultra Marathon

Crossing The Old Shoreham Toll Bridge on the last mile

When: October 10th 2021
Start: Church of St Martha-on-the-Hill, Halfpenny Lane, Guildford, GU4 8PZ
Finish: 3rd Shoreham Sea Scouts, Shoreham-by-Sea, BN43 5LT
Distance: 61.3 km (38.1 miles)
Elevation change: +456m / -622m (Net -166m)
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): North Downs Way, Tillingbourne At Work (SCC), Wey South Path, The Fox Way, Greensand Way, Sussex Border Path, West Sussex Literary Trail, South Downs Way
Other routes touched (cycle): NCN 22, 223
Maps:
- OS Explorer Map (145) Guildford and Farnham
- OS Explorer OL34 Crawley & Horsham
- OS Explorer OL11 Brighton and Hove
Finish time: 8 hours 32 minutes
Links: Downs Link (Wikipedia), The Cranleigh Line, The Steyning Line, St Martha’s Hill, Surrey Hills AONB, Wey and Arun Canal, South Downs National Park

This was a return to familiar territory for Mark and I. We’d cycled the Downs Link in July and passed by St Martha’s church on the Hardest of Snails 10k shortly after. Running the whole of the 38 mile trail was an altogether bigger challenge. This was also Mark’s first Ultra and my first running one with a friend.

I had worked out a plan to get us through it at a steady pace with 30 minutes contingency for the 10 hour cut-off. I have a consistent pace for Ultras, but not knowing how Mark would get on I didn’t know whether we would be able to stick together or not.

The first 6.4k to the old railway path is steep and hilly. With a lot of runners packed tightly into narrow paths you have to go at the speed of the group. This was a comfortable pace for a short race but faster than I had planned for this. I couldn’t see Mark at all in this first section and was worried that I was getting a long way ahead. I needn’t have worried as he arrived at the first Aid Station 30 seconds behind me.

This was the pattern for the first half of the race. I was slightly ahead on each section and we met up at the Aid Stations. Somewhere between Henfield and Steyning we’d both slowed to a fast walk and kept together to the end. By the finish point at Shoreham-by-Sea we were a hour ahead of our planned time and well within the official cut-off.

This is billed as a great Ultra for first timers and I’d argue that it’s a great one all round. After the first 6.4k it’s mostly flat and on good ground. There’s a few long straight stretches that got a bit boring but made up for by the remains of the old stations along the way. See my post on the cycle trip for more about these.

Running and crossing the finishing line with a friend made it special for me. Well done Mark on joining the Ultra club and huge thanks for Mark’s family for supporting us along the way.

Back to Run Index

Richard gower10 October 2021Run, Ultramarathon, Canal, Railway, Disused Railway, Coast, South Downs, Surrey Hills AONB, National Park, National Trust, Surrey, Sussex, EnglandComment

Walking The Colne Valley Trail and the Colne Valley Way

The Colne Valley Trail runs the length of the Colne Valley Regional Park from Rickmansworth in the North to the River Thames at Staines at the Southern End. The Southern Sections are sign-posted the Colne Valley Way although it’s effectively one continuous trail. There’s also a spur connecting Langley Park to The Grand Union Canal at Cowley Lock.

We completed the first 2 sections from Rickmansworth to Yiewsley in Spring 2020. The bridge over the M4 was currently closed at the time due to roadworks and we completed the 3rd section in July 2021 when the bridge re-opened.

The guidance below will help you navigate but don’t use it as a fully accurate turn-by-turn guide. Always take a map and/or a GPX route and prepare well for the weather and terrain.

SECTION 1 - RICKMANSWORTH TO UXBRIDGE

Start: Rickmansworth Aquadrome, Frogmoor Lane, Rickmansworth WD3 1NB
Finish: The Swan and Bottle, Oxford Rd, Uxbridge UB8 1LZ
Distance: 11.5 km (7.1 miles)
Elevation change: +38m / -50m. Net -12m
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): Grand Union Canal Towpath, Hillingdon Trail, London Loop
Other routes touched (cycle): NCN 6, 61
London Coal Duty Posts: 60
Other Pubs / Cafes on route: The Cafe in the Park at Rickmansworth Aquadrome, The Coy Carp at Harefield Lock
Map: OS Explorer Map (172) Chiltern Hills East
Links: Colne Valley Regional Park, Rickmansworth, Uxbridge

If you’re arriving by public transport, Ricksmansworth Station is a short walk to the start of the trail. If you’re driving the Car Park at Rickmansworth Aquadrome is best. For either start option I recommend the Cafe in The Park at the Aquadrome for an amazing coffee and cake combo to get you going.

This first section of the walk is very easy to navigate as it pretty much sticks to the towpath of the Grand Union Canal. It’s also very well signposted so the minor diversions off the towpath are unlikely to get you lost.

The end of this section at Uxbridge also offers many parking options and the canal is a short walk from Uxbridge Station. Here you can connect back to Rickmansworth on the Metropolitan Line, changing at Harrow-on-the Hill.

SECTION 2 - UXBRIDGE TO Yiewsley

Start: The Swan and Bottle, Oxford Road, Uxbridge, UB8 1LZ
Finish: Trout Lane, Yiewsley, UB7 7FD
Distance: 6.1 km (3.8 miles)
Elevation change: +17m / -23m. Net -6m
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): Grand Union Canal Towpath, Hillingdon Trail, London Loop, Beeches Way, Shakespeare’s Way
Other routes touched (cycle): NCN 6, 61
London Coal Duty Posts: 65, 66
Other Pubs / Cafes on route: The General Eliott, 1 St John's Road, Uxbridge, UB8 2UR
Map: OS Explorer Map (172) Chiltern Hills East
Links: Colne Valley Regional Park, Uxbridge, Yiewsley

From the Swan and Bottle continue South along the canal towpath for ~1.25 km, looking out for signs diverting off the the right (East). The path will take you through a residential area and an unattractive industrial estate for ~500m. This is a minor inconvenience to get you to a much more pleasant narrow stretch of park running South next to the River Colne. After ~1 km you’ll reach the B470 Iver Lane Take a left onto the road then a right onto Old Mill Lane. Follow this for ~1 km to Little Britain Lake. Old Mill Lane runs parallel to the River Frays with a highlight being the Old Mill building which was once abandoned and is now apartments.

At the end of Old Mill Lane turn right, following Packet Boat Lane to the footpath that follows the River Colne. Take a left at the path junction and follow the River Colne South. After ~500m you’ll cross the Slough Arm of the Grand Union Canal and will join the Beeches Way. Continue for another ~500m watching out for the footpath junction. The Beeches Way continues onwards to Yiewsley but the Colne Valley Trail splits off the the right (South). Given the M4 Old Slade Lane bridge closure further South, this was the end of the trail for us for now. We’ll be back later to continue on to Staines.

SECTION 3 - YIEWSLEY TO STAINES

Start: Trout Lane, Yiewsley, UB7 7FD
Finish: Lammas Recreation Ground, 115 Wraysbury Road, Staines, TW18 4UA
Distance: 15.3 km (9.5 miles)
Elevation change: +44m / -55m. Net -11m
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): None
Other routes touched (cycle): None
Pubs / Cafes on route: Ye Olde George or The Ostrich in Colnbrook High Street
Map: OS Explorer Map (172) Chiltern Hills East and OS Explorer Map (160) Windsor, Weybridge & Bracknell
Links: Colne Valley Regional Park, Yiewsley, Colnbrook, Stanwell Moor, Staines Moor, Staines-upon-Thames

We were hoping to return to the Trail later in 2020, but the M4 Old Slade Lane bridge didn’t re-open until July 2021. As soon as we got confirmation that there was pedestrian access across it we headed back to Yiewsley. There’s good parking and public transport options in Yiewsley, all about 1 km from re-joining the Trail at Trout Lane.

This section has quite a different feel from the Grand-Union based sections 1 and 2. From Trout Lane you soon cross under the GWR mainline and into Thorney Park. Here you’ll find one of 3 motorway crossings as the Trail navigates around the unloved western end of Heathrow airport. After crossing the A4 you’ll reach Colnbrook, an old village that’s still pleasant in parts but stranded in an island surrounded by the motorways and airport. This is a good place for a drink and a rest or as an end point if you want to split this longer section in 2.

Leaving Colnbrook, you’re now following Colne Valley Way sign rather than the Colne Valley Trail. From Horton the route leaves the Colne Brook stream, heading east past the top end of the Wraysbury Reservoir and over the M25. Here you’ll join the River Colne, following its route through Stanwell Moor, Staines Moor and the western edge of Staines. Be careful after the M25 crossing as the Colne Valley Way signs disappear and you’ll need to rely on a map or GPX route.

The route ends at the Thames near the café at the Llamas recreation ground. From here it’s a 0.5 km walk along the river to Staines Town Centre.

Next sections of the London Loop:

Clockwise: Hill End to the Grand Union via the Hillingdon Trail then South Oxhey to Hill End
Anti-clockwise: Grand Union Canal from Yiewsley to The Hillingdon Trail at Parkway

Back to Colne Valley Walking Trails Index

Richard gower1 August 2021Trek, Chilterns, Colne Valley, Canal, Coal Duty Post, Middlesex, Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Berkshire, Surrey, EnglandComment

Cycling The Downs Link

Start: St. Martha’s Hill Guildford Lane Car Park, Guildford Lane, Albury, Guildford, GU5 9BQ
Finish: Shoreham-by-Sea Station, Station Approach, Shoreham-by-Sea, BN43 5WX
Distance: 61 km (38 miles)
Elevation change: +344m / -457m (Net -113m)
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): North Downs Way, Tillingbourne At Work (SCC), Wey South Path, The Fox Way, Greensand Way, Sussex Border Path, West Sussex Literary Trail, South Downs Way
Other routes touched (cycle): NCN 22, 223
Other routes touched (run): Downs Li nk Ultra
Pubs / Cafes on route: Wild & Green Kitchen (Cranleigh), The Little Teahouse (Southwater), The Old Railway (Henfield) …and others
Maps:
- OS Explorer Map (145) Guildford and Farnham
- OS Explorer OL34 Crawley & Horsham
- OS Explorer OL11 Brighton and Hove
Links: Downs Link (Wikipedia), The Cranleigh Line, The Steyning Line, St Martha’s Hill, Surrey Hills AONB, Wey and Arun Canal, South Downs National Park

The Downs Link is a ~59k trail linking the North Downs Way at St. Martha’s Hill and the South Downs Way near Shoreham-by-Sea. Having recently completed the similarly sounding Thames Down Link, this was an obvious next trip. The first 6k is a hilly route through countryside around Blackheath and Chilworth. Once it connects to the Wey and Arun Canal it follows the route of the disused Cranleigh and Steyning Lines.

There’s no practical public transport connection between the start and the end (maybe they should build a train line to connect them?) … so we did a 2-car shuffle. Our total route was a bit longer than the actual Downs Link as we started from the Guildford Lane Car Park and finished at Shoreham-by-Sea station.

Navigation is very easy, especially once you’re on the old rail line. There were a couple of path junctions on the first 6k that we may have missed if we’d not had a GPX route to guide us.

There’s remains of the former stations along the route, some better preserved than others. West Grinstead is a particular highlight as there’s a British Rail Mark 1 coach on site, now used as an information centre. Others, like Partridge Green and Bramber have been completely demolished with no remaining evidence.

Don’t miss stopping at Rudgwick Bridge over the River Arun. The previous gradient up to Rudgwick Station was too steep for trains so the embankments were raised and an iron bridge was built on top of the brick arch. There’s a viewpoint just off the path where you can see the two layers. The logo on the Down Link signs along the route are based on this bridge.

If you’re an OS Trig Pillar bagger, you can find TP1686 - Broomhall Copse 5 minutes off the path at the intersection with the Sussex Border path.

Downs Link Disused Stations

Pictures above: top row, left to right:

Bramley and Womersh: Disused Stations / Wikipedia. Platform and shelter still there.
Cranleigh: Disused Stations / Wikipedia. Station’s old platform levels still exist behind shops. Everything else has gone.
Baynards: Disused Stations / Wikipedia. Station has been restored but now in private hands.
Rudgwick: Disused Stations / Wikipedia. Rudgwick Medical Centre has been built on the site of the station's main building.
Slinfold: Disused Stations / Wikipedia. Station demolished & replaced by caravan park. Photo shows Railway Cottages opposite.
Christ’s Hospital: Disused Stations / Wikipedia. Old station demolished but platform remains. New station to the south.

Pictures above: bottom row, left to right:

Southwater: Wikipedia. Replica sign only, road now covers site of original station.
West Grinstead: Wikipedia. Station building and cottages now in private hands. Platform remains with a British Rail Mark 1 coach on display.
Partridge Green: Wikipedia. Station buildings have been removed and replaced by housing and the Star Road Industrial Estate
Henfield: Wikipedia. Station demolished. Only evidence is Beechings and Station Road sign where station used to be.
Steyning: Wikipedia. Station demolished but old warehouse building remains, now converted into townhouses.
Bramber: Wikipedia. Station demolished and replaced by a roundabout (photo). No other evidence.

The Complete Route

Two maps of the Prime Meridian. Above: Cycle route, each colour representing a different day of the trip. Right: tube-style map showing the cycle route, 0 degrees longitude and the Greenwich Meridian Trail

Back to Cycle Index

Richard gower14 July 2021Cycle, NCN, Coast, Thames, Railway, Disused Railway, Canal, South Downs, National Park, Surrey Hills AONB, Sussex, Surrey, London, Hertfordshire, Essex, Cambridgeshire, Huntingdonshire, Lincolnshire, Yorkshire, EnglandComment

Chiltern Railways Walking Routes

Having walked and cycled a lot of the Chilterns over the past few years I’ve become much more familiar with its landscape. I discovered the valleys in my cycling trips along the Chiltern Rivers and the high points while bagging the Trig Points. With a need to find more short local walks during the Covid Lockdowns my attention turned to finding the rail lines and stations in the AONB. All of the walks listed below the map are around 10k (~6 miles) with a start and finish at a Chiltern rail station. This list covers all stations inside the Chiltern Hills AONB, shaded in green on the map. There’s also a selection of walks covering stations in the “Greater Chiltern Area”, shaded in peach, which covers the area bounded by the north end of the AONB and the Rivers Thames, Lea and Colne.

Rail-based circular walks in the Chiltern Hills AONB

Where all or most of the walk is within the boundary of the AONB

Amersham Old and New Towns (Amersham Station): 8.3 Km. +/- 75m Elevation Gain.
Berkhamsted Castle and Common (Berkhamsted station): 10.5 Km. +/- 73m Elevation Gain.
Chesham & Tylers Hill (Chesham station): 9.3 Km. +/- 84m Elevation Gain.
Chorleywood and Chenies (Chorleywood station): 8.0 Km. +/- 85m Elevation Gain.
Goring & Streatley Station Circular (Goring & Streatley station): 8.9 Km. +/- 155m Elevation Gain.
Great Missenden and Ballinger (Great Missenden station): 9.8 Km. +/- 113m Elevation Gain.
Great Missenden and Little Kingshill (Great Missenden station): 10 Km. +/- 112m Elevation Gain.
Little Chalfont and Latimer (Chalfont & Latimer station): 8.4 Km. +/- 140m Elevation Gain.
Saunderton & Loosely Row (Saunderton station): 9.1 Km. +/- 125m Elevation Gain.
Tring Park and Northfield (Tring Station): 8.4 Km. +/- 140m Elevation Gain.
Uxbridge to Denham (Uxbridge High Street, Denham stations): 6.3 km. +/- 27m Elevation Gain.
Wendover and Coombe Hill (Wendover station): 7.3 Km. +/- 139m Elevation Gain.

Rail-based circular walks in the Greater Chilterns Area

Where all or most of the walk is outside of the boundary of the AONB

Beaconsfield, Knotty Green and Seer Green (Beaconsfield station): 10.6 Km. +/- 84m Elevation Gain.
Cassiobury, Whippendell Woods and Croxley Green: (Croxley and Watford stations): 10.1 km. +/- 84m Elevation Gain.
Rickmansworth and Chorleywood (Rickmansworth station): 9.4 Km. +/- 100m Elevation Gain.
Risborough Railways Ramble (Princes Risborough station): 10.7 Km. +/- 83m Elevation Gain.
Shiplake and Henley-on-Thames (Shiplake and Henley-on-Thames stations): 8.8 Km. +/- 80m Elevation Gain.
Walking The Marlow Donkey (Bourne End and Marlow stations): 11.4 Km. +/- 65m Elevation Gain.

Rail-based point to point walks in the Greater Chilterns Area

The Chess Valley Walk (Rickmansworth and Chesham stations): 17.9 Km. +309m / -256m Elevation Gain.
Walking The Abbey Line Trail (St Albans City to Watford Junction): 15 Km. -74m / -86m Elevation Gain.
Walking The Bourne End To Maidenhead Line (Bourne End, Cookham, Furze Platt and Maidenhead stations): 9.6 Km. +60m / -58m Elevation Gain.
Walking The Wycombe to Bourne End Disused Railway (High Wycombe & Bourne End stations): 9.9 Km. +37m / -86m. Net -49m Elevation Gain.
Walking The Ebury Way Disused Railway (Watford Junction to Rickmansworth Church Street): 8.8 Km. +39m / -61m Elevation Gain.
Train out, walk back: The Chinnor and Princes Risborough Railway: 6.3 km (3.9 miles). +73m / -46m. Net = +27m. Elevation Gain.

Rail-based cycle trips in the Greater Chilterns Area

Cycling The Nickey Line, Ayot Greenway and The Alban Way: 54.2 km. +/- 364m Elevation Gain.
via the routes of the disused Harpenden to Hemel Hempstead Branch Railway, Dunstable Branch Line and Hatfield and St Albans Railway lines.
Cycling The Phoenix Trail and Watlington & Princes Risborough Railway: 46.6 km. +/- 313m Elevation Gain.
via the routes of the disused Wycombe Railway from Princes Risborough to Thame and back via the old Watlington and Princes Risborough line.
Cycling The Windsor to Staines Railway: 26.3 km +/- 78m Elevation Gain.
via Windsor & Eton Riverside, Datchet, Sunnymeads, Wraysbury and Staines stations
Cycling The Staines West to Denham Disused Railways: 22.9 km. + 99m / -67m. Net +22m Elevation Gain
via 3 separate disused railways through West Drayton and Uxbridge

Back to Chiltern Walks Index

Richard gower22 May 2021Trek, Canal, Railway, Disused Railway, Underground, Thames, Chilterns, Colne Valley, Oxfordshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire, EnglandComment

Walking The Capital Ring: Harrow on the Hill to Horsenden Hill

Including the London Borough High Points of Brent and Ealing

View to Wembley and the city from Sudbury Hill

Start: Harrow on the Hill Station, Station Approach, Harrow, HA1 1BB
Finish: Perivale Station, Horsenden Lane North, Perivale, Greenford, UB6 8AE
Distance: 7.9 km (4.9 miles)
Elevation change: +96m /- 146m. Net -50m
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): The Capital Ring, Grand Union Canal Paddington Arm
Other routes touched (cycle): N/A
Pubs / Cafes on route: Several on Harrow on the Hill High Street and around Sudbury Hill stations
Map: OS Explorer Map (173) London North, The City, West End, Enfield, Ealing, Harrow & Watford
Guidebook: Capital Ring (National Trail Guides) by Colin Saunders
Links: Harrow on The Hill, St Mary’s Church Harrow on the Hill, Sudbury Hill, Horsenden Hill

This route mostly follows the Capital Ring with a couple of short diversions to bag the high points of the London Boroughs of Brent and Ealing.

The map and route details above describe a route from Harrow on the Hill to Perivale Stations. A return trip by public transport would take you to from Perivale to Northolt by train then a bus to Harrow on the Hill. We had 2 cars for the trip so we were able to park one car at by St Mary’s Church, Harrow on the Hill and another at Horsenden Farm, both free at the time we went. This reduced the trip distance by about 1 km.

From Harrow on the Hill Station, walk south along Station Approach, taking a left onto Lowland’s Road (A404) and then cut south across The Grove Open Space. At the south end of the park you’ll follow the Capital Ring Link up to Lord Byron’s view in the grounds of St Mary’s Church. This is the top of Harrow Hill at 124m. It’s not the high point of Harrow, though as that’s Bushey Heath to the north. The name is thought to come from the Old English for 'heathen temple'. Its remains may well stand beneath St Mary's church, whose spire can be seen for miles around (source: How London’s Hills Got Their Names).

When exiting St Mary’s Church, walk south down Church Hill to High Street. You’ll now be on the Capital Ring which you’ll follow for most of the trip. When the Capital Ring leaves Sudbury Hill road at South Hill Avenue, keep walking down Sudbury Hill. At the intersection of Sudbury Hill, Greenford Road, Harrow Road and Sudbury Court Drive, take a left onto Sudbury Court Drive. Take the first right onto Sudbury Court Road then the footpath into Sudbury Hill Park. You can’t miss the tree that marks the (alternative) highest point in Brent.

Take a moment to rest on the benches that are strangely turned away from the view before retracing your steps to the intersection. Continue south-west along Greenford Road, rejoining the Capital Ring at Sudbury Hill Harrow Station. Continue along the Capital Ring to the bridge over the Grand Union Canal, bagging the Trig Pillar at Horsenden Hill along the way. The car park at Horsenden Farm, next to the Grand Union, was our end point for the trip. If you’re finishing at Perivale station, cross over the Grand Union and keep walking down Horsenden Lane South for ~600m.

Sudbury Hill

Significance: (alternative) Highest peak in London Borough of Brent
Member of: N/A
Parent Peak: Haddington Hill. NHN = Wakeman’s Hill Avenue (the other high point in Brent)
Historic County: Middlesex (of which Bushey Heath is the County Top)
Elevation: 91m
Date “climbed”: 24th April 2021
Coordinates: 51° 33' 45'' N, 0° 19' 29'' W
Nearest Station: Sudbury Hill Harrow (Chiltern Railways): 1.9 km
On route of: N/A. The Capital Ring is 1.1 km to the south-west
Map: OS Explorer Map (161) London South, Westminster, Greenwich, Croydon, Esher & Twickenham
Links: Wikipedia (Brent), Wikipedia (Sudbury Hill), Peakbagger, Hillbagging

This may be 1 metre lower than the official high point of Brent but it’s likely the most interesting. The higher point is in the middle of a residential street and looks tedious. I’ll confirm that soon when I get round to visiting it. At last this one feels like a summit and has some views of the city.

Horsenden Hill

Significance: Highest peak in London Borough of Ealing
Member of: N/A
Parent Peak: Haddington Hill. NHN = Sudbury Hill
Historic County: Middlesex (of which Bushey Heath is the County Top)
Elevation: 85m
Date “climbed”: 24th April 2021
Coordinates: 51° 32' 46'' N, 0° 19' 34'' W
Nearest Station: Sudbury Town (Piccadilly Line): 1.6 km
On route of: The Capital Ring is 0.1 km to the north
OS Trig Pillar: TP4023 - Horsenden Hill
Map: OS Explorer Map (161) London South, Westminster, Greenwich, Croydon, Esher & Twickenham
Links: Wikipedia (Ealing), Wikipedia (Horsenden Hill), Peakbagger, Hillbagging

Signs of an Iron Age settlement from 2500 BC have been found on and around the hill. Its present name can be traced back to Saxon times and probably refers to a hill fort controlled by a chap called Horsa (source: How London’s Hills Got Their Names).

Unlike Sudbury there’s no disputes about this being the highest point in Ealing.

Back to Greater London High Points Index

Richard gower24 April 2021Trek, London Borough High Point, Trig Pillar, Canal, Railway, London, EnglandComment

Day 1: Thames Barrier to Chatham

Day 2: Chatham to Margate

The Full 2-Day Route

The Millennium Mileposts

More Disused Railway Posts

The Bridges

The Bridges

Section 1: Marsworth To Puttenham

Section 2: Puttenham to Broughton

Section 3: Broughton to Aylesbury Basin

The Full Aylesbury Arm Canal Route

The Bridges

Section 1: Wendover to Stablebridge Road

Section 2: Stablebridge Road to Miswell Farm

Section 3: Miswell Farm to Marsworth

The Full Wendover Arm Canal Route

Line 1: Staines West to West Drayton

Line 2: West Drayton to Uxbridge Vine Street

Line 3: Uxbridge High Street to Denham

The full cycle route from Staines West to Denham

Stations on the Staines West to Denham Lines

More Disused Railway Posts

See also:

Other Posts for the South Downs

Tube-Style Maps

BLOG POSTS FEATURING THE GREAT TRAILS

MORE INFORMATION ON THE GREAT TRAILS

Tube-Style Maps

Parkland Walk South

Parkland Walk North

More on the web for The Parkland Walk

More Disused Railway Posts

The Trails

Section 1. Windsor Castle to Ascot

Section 2. Ascot to Swinley Forest

Section 3. Swinley Forest to Horeshoe Lake

Section 4. Horseshoe Lake to Hartley Wintney

Section 5. Hartley Wintney to Greywell

SECTION 1 - RICKMANSWORTH TO UXBRIDGE

SECTION 2 - UXBRIDGE TO Yiewsley

Next sections of the London Loop:

Downs Link Disused Stations

More Disused Railway Posts

Links to each section:

The Complete Route

Rail-based circular walks in the Chiltern Hills AONB

Rail-based circular walks in the Greater Chilterns Area

Rail-based point to point walks in the Greater Chilterns Area

Rail-based cycle trips in the Greater Chilterns Area

Sudbury Hill

Horsenden Hill